Protective Cover For Paint Can

ABSTRACT

Protective covers for cans of paint or wood stain having a circular cap with an inner and an outer lip, wherein the inner and outer lips are downwardly disposed to cooperatively and frictionally engage a lid rim of a paint or wood stain can, and a circular flange extending upwardly from the circular cap and extending circumferentially around the lid rim of the can, wherein the circular flange curves inwardly toward the center of the can to define an opening through which the contents of the can may be accessed, and wherein a portion of the outer edge of the flange extends a shorter distance upward from the cap than the rest of the flange to provide a recessed edge against which excess liquid may be scraped from a paint brush and drain back into the can.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to scraping excess paint from paint brushes andmore specifically to a brush scraping apparatus including embodimentsfor attachment to an open paint can installed by the user after the canhas been opened for use.

Using a brush and a can of paint to paint any surface is a routinepractice. The painter typically applies paint to the brush by dippingthe bristles of the brush in the paint can. Painting has typically beena very messy job. Usually, there is excess paint on the brush after itis taken out of the paint can. Painters usually scrape the excess paintfrom the brush before applying the paint to the surface that he or sheis painting. In many cases, painters will pour about half of the can ofpaint into a second can. This allows the painter to scrape the paintfrom the brush on the rim of either can to remove excess paint from thebrush.

The inside upper edge or rim of the paint can is normally the mostconvenient place to scrape excess paint from the brush and it is the rimof the can that most painters normally use to scrape off excess paintbefore applying the paint brush to the surface that he or she ispainting. The design of the conventional paint can is not designed toallow the painter to unload excess paint off the brush properly. Wipingthe brush on the side of the paint can cause several problems. Thisaction causes paint to flow into the rim channel and over the side ofthe paint can. The paint often ends up on the carpet or other surfacewhere the can is placed. Once the rim of the can has been contaminatedwith paint, it is very difficult to seal the can properly. The paint inthe rim also acts like cement making the subsequent opening of the canvery difficult.

Another problem arises when the painter puts the lid back on the canwith the rim section full of paint. When the painter strikes the lid toseal the can, the paint in the rim is projected outward and can causesubstantial damage to the surrounding area. The paint is often projectedonto the painter, and can cause physical damage if expelled into theeyes.

There remains a need for a protective device for paint lids that issimple to manufacture and provides a surface against which brushes maybe scraped in a manner that permits excess paint to drip back into thecan.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This need is met by the present invention. The present inventionprovides a protective cap for a paint or wood stain can having aninwardly curving upper flange with recessed portions against which paintbrushes can be scraped with excess paint or wood stain flowing back intothe can. The protective cap is effective yet very simple to mold frominexpensive polymers to provide a product that cleans up easily forre-use.

Thus, according to one aspect of the present invention, a protectivecover for a paint or wood stain can is provided in the form of acircular cap having an inner and an outer lip, with the inner and outerlips being downwardly disposed to cooperatively and frictionally engagea lid rim of a paint or wood stain can. A circular flange extendsupwardly from the circular cap around the lid rim of the can and curvesinwardly toward the center of the can to define an opening through whichthe contents of the can may be accessed. A portion of the outer edge ofthe flange extends a shorter distance upward from the cap than the restof the flange to provide a recessed edge against which excess liquid maybe scraped from a paint brush and drain back into the can. The circularcap can be prepared in a variety of diameters to accommodate thestandard sizes of cans available for paint and wood stain.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the recessed edgeof the flange is essentially parallel to the plane of the circular cap.This provides an optimal surface for wiping from a brush excess liquidswith the viscosity of oil-based and latex paints.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the recessededge of the flange forms an acute angle with the plane of the circularcap. In one aspect of this embodiment, the acute angle of the flange issufficiently shallow to permit the flange to define an inwardly curvingspiral around the surface of the circular cap. This provides an optimalsurface for wiping from a brush excess liquid with the viscosity of awood stain.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, two recessed edgesare provided, a first recessed edge essentially parallel to the plane ofthe circular cap and a second recessed edge forming an acute angle withthe plane of the circular cap. This allows the protective cover to besuitable for use with both paints and wood stains.

In another embodiment the present invention provides protective coverswith recessed edges dimensioned to receive the width and thickness of apaint brush. A plurality of recessed edges with different widthdimensions may be provided to accommodate a variety of brush sizes, or asingle recess may be provided with a width dimension large enough toaccommodate essentially any brush having a common width. Such recessesdefine side edges against which the brush may also be wiped.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, apertures areprovided in the circular cap or the inwardly curving upward flange. Theapertures permit any excess paint or wood stain falling to the exteriorof the flange to drain back into the can.

According to another embodiment, the cap is provided with a pouringspout integral with the upward flange. This permits the can contents tobe dispensed neatly without contaminating the rim of the can with paintor wood stain. For example, the paint or wood stain may be dispensed bymeans of the spout into a tray for application with a paint roller.

According to another embodiment, the circular cap may be provided withmeans to hold a paint brush above the opening in the can. The means canbe adapted to secure the brush above the contents to permit paint orwood stain on the brush to drip back into the can, or the means can beadapted to secure the brush so that the bristles are immersed in the cancontents to prevent the brush from drying out.

The present invention thus provides a washable and reusable product forkeeping excess paint and wood stain off of cans and brushes to prolongbrush life and maintain a neater job. Other features of the presentinvention will be pointed out in the following description referencingthe drawings and claims, which disclose the principles of the inventionand the best modes which are presently contemplated for carrying themout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a protective cover according to oneembodiment of the present invention in relation to a paint can;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the protective cover depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the protective cover depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2,viewed from the opposite side;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the protective cover depicted in FIGS. 1-3; and

FIG. 5 is perspective view of a protective cover according to anotherembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The embodiments of the protective cover of the present invention areillustrated in combination with a one gallon cylindrical paint can.However, the protective covers of the present invention can bemanufactured for use in combination with essentially any size can ofpaint or wood stain. In addition to one gallon cans, paints and woodstains are also commonly sold in one pint and one quart cans, as well asin five gallon bucket. Equivalent metric-size containers of products arealso manufactured and sold.

In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1-4, protective cover 10 includescircular cap 20 having an inner lip and an outer lip that are disposeddownwardly so that they cooperatively frictionally fasten protectivecover 10 to circular channel 11 of paint can PC. The inner and outerlips of circular cap 20 co-operatively seal circular channel 11 of paintcan PC so that excess paint cannot collect and dry in circular channel11. One purpose of the protective cover of the present invention is toprevent excess paint from accumulating and drying in circular channel11. The accumulation of dried paint in circular channel 11 preventsproper reattachment of the paint can lid. This allows evaporation fromthe paint can interior so that the remaining paint dries out. The driedpaint cannot be subsequently used and is wasted.

An arcuate flange 21 extends upwardly from circular cap 20 and inwardlytoward the center C of paint can PC to define an opening 22 throughwhich the contents of paint can PC may be accessed. A portion 24 of theouter edge 26 of flange extends a shorter distance upward from thecircular cap 20 than the rest of the flange 32 to provide a recessededge 34 against which excess liquid may be scraped from a paint brushand drain back into paint can PC.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3, recessed edge 34 a of flange 21 isessentially parallel to the plane defined by circular cap 20. Thisprovides an optimal surface for wiping from a brush excess liquids withthe viscosity of oil-based and latex paints. According to the embodimentdepicted in FIG. 2, recessed edge 34 c of flange 21 forms an acute angleAA with the plane defined by circular cap 20. As seen in FIG. 2, acuteangle AA of flange 21 is sufficiently shallow to permit flange 21 todefine an inwardly curving spiral 25 around the circumference ofcircular cap 20. This provides an optimal surface for wiping from abrush excess liquid with the viscosity of a wood stain.

In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1-4, two recessed edges 34 a and 34c are provided, a first recessed edge 34 a essentially parallel to theplane defined by circular cap 20 and a second recessed edge 34 c formingan acute angle with the plane defined by circular cap 20. This allowsthe protective cover to be suitable for use with both paints and woodstains.

Recessed edge 34 a of protective cover 10 is dimensioned to receive thewidth and thickness of a paint brush. A plurality of recessed edges withdifferent width dimensions can be provided to accommodate a variety ofbrush sizes. In the alternative, a single recess can be provided with awidth dimension large enough to accommodate essentially any brush havinga common width. Such recesses define side edges against which the brushmay also be wiped.

As seen in FIGS. 1-4, apertures 40 a, 40 b, 40 c, etc., are provided incircular cap 20 and flange 21. The apertures permit excess paint fallingto the exterior 42 of flange 21 to drain back into paint can PC.

The protective cover of the present invention can also be provided witha pouring spout integral with the circular cap and flange. This permitsthe can contents to be dispensed neatly without contaminating the rim ofthe can with paint.

As seen in FIG. 5, cover 10 is provided with means 60 that is moldedseparately and assembled to hold paint brush 70 above the opening 12 ofpaint can PC. In particular, posts 61 and 62 frictionally engage theneck 72 of brush 70 so that the bristles 74 extend over the opening 12parallel to the surface of the paint in the can.

In alternative embodiments, one or two longer posts are used that bend90 degrees and extend over the center of the can, with a first postportion parallel to the can opening and a second post portionperpendicular to the can opening. When one post is used, the paint brushis affixed to the post by a clamp. When two posts are used, clamps orother means may be employed so the two posts co-operatively secure thebrush to the posts. The second portion or portions of the post or postsmay telescope to raise and lower the paint brush bristles into and outof the paint in paint can PC.

Alternative means of affixing the paint brush to the post or posts maybe provided, such as a hook formed on the end of either or both post.The hook is insertable through the aperture typically provided in brushhandles to hang the brush therefrom so that it may be raised and loweredby the telescoping post or posts.

This embodiment thus serves to secure a paint brush above the paint canopening to permit excess paint on the paint brush bristles to drip backinto paint can PC, or the post or posts can be telescoped so that thepaint brush bristles are immersed into the paint in the paint can toprevent the paint brush bristles from drying out.

Can cover 10 can be formed by injection molding from thermoplasticpolymers by conventional means. The brush attachment means may beseparately molded, and the recesses and apertures in the cap cover canbe integrally molded or die cut after molding.

The polymers are selected and the molding compositions preferablyformulated to ensure that paint or wood stain can be easily removed fromcan covers molded therefrom. Such molding formulations are well known tothose of ordinary skill in the injection molding art and require nofurther description here. The can cover can be readily molded fromrecycled plastics, including plastics into which waste paint has beenrecycled.

The description of the preferred embodiments should be taken asillustrating, instead of limiting, the present invention as defined bythe claims. As will be readily appreciated, numerous combinations of allfeatures set forth above can be used without departing from theinvention set forth in the claims. Such variations are not regarded as adeparture from the spirit and scope of the invention and all suchmodifications are intended to be included within the scope of thefollowing claims

1. A protective cover for a can with contents comprising paint or woodstain, said cover comprising: a circular cap having an inner and anouter lip, said inner and outer lips being downwardly disposed tocooperatively and frictionally engage a lid rim of a paint or wood staincan; and a circular flange extending upwardly from the circular cap andextending circumferentially around said lid rim of the can, saidcircular flange curving inwardly toward the center of said can to definean opening through which the contents of the can may be accessed;wherein a portion of the outer edge of said flange extends a shorterdistance upward from said cap than the rest of said flange to provide arecessed edge against which excess liquid may be scraped from a paintbrush and drain back into said can.
 2. The protective cover of claim 1,wherein said recessed edge of said flange is essentially parallel to theplane defined by said circular cap.
 3. The protective cover of claim 1,wherein said recessed edge of said flange forms an acute angle with theplane defined by said circular cap.
 4. The protective cover of claim 3,wherein said acute angle of said flange is sufficiently shallow topermit the flange to define an inwardly curving spiral around the topsurface of said circular cap.
 5. The protective cover of claim 1,wherein a plurality of recessed edges are provided comprising a firstrecessed edge essentially parallel to the plane defined by said circularcap and a second recessed edge forming an acute angle with the planedefined by said circular cap
 6. The protective cover of claim 1, whereinsaid recessed edge is dimensioned to receive the width and thickness ofa paint brush.
 7. The protective cover of claim 6, comprising aplurality of recessed edges with different width dimensions that aredimensioned to accommodate a variety of brush width sizes.
 8. Theprotective cover of claim 6, consisting of a single recess with a widthdimension large enough to accommodate essentially any brush having acommon width.
 9. The protective cover of claim 1, wherein said circularcap or inwardly curving upward flange comprise a plurality of aperturespositioned to permit any excess paint or wood stain falling to theexterior of said flange to drain back into the can.
 10. The protectivecover of claim 1, further comprising a pouring spout integral with saidcircular cap and said upward flange.
 11. The protective cover of claim1, further comprising a means for holding a paint brush above theopening in the can, wherein said brush holding means is affixed to saidcircular cap.
 12. The protective cover of claim 11, wherein said brushholding means is adapted to secure the brush above the contents of saidcan to permit paint or wood stain on the brush to drip back into saidcan contents.
 13. The protective cover of claim 11, wherein said brushholding means is adapted to secure the brush so that the bristles areimmersed in the can contents to prevent the brush from drying out. 14.The protective cover of claim 11, wherein said brush holding means isadapted to raise and lower the brush, so that the bristles can be raisedout of or lowered into the can contents.